[vsnet-chat 7198] Re: Supernovae and amateur astronomers

[arne]

So serious amateurs work at another job to gather sufficient funds
to pursue their astronomy hobby; professionals work at an astronomy
job to pursue their astronomy hobby. :-)
  Seriously, the main difference is the PhD.  That is a major
investment of time, energy, money and intelligence.  Don't
dismiss it lightly.  Kinda the difference between
a nurse and a surgeon.  Both are important. (I know surgeons
whom I would never let draw blood, and professional astronomers
that should never get near a telescope.)
Arne

Gary Poyner wrote:

>Yes, but that is the exception to the rule.  There are a very
>small number of 'grants' out there if you know where to look, but
>scale this alongside the number of serious amateurs these days
>and it's pretty obvious that financial outlay is the big
>difference between the 'serious amateur' (I hate that expression)
>and the professional doing similar research!
>
>Gary
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Poyner
>garypoyner at blueyonder.co.uk
>gp at star.sr.bham.ac.uk
>http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/varstars.html
>"You can always tell a Brummie....but you can't tell him much"!
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: <dbwilyumz at aol.com>
>To: <vsnet-chat at ooruri.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>
>Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 2:17 PM
>Subject: [vsnet-chat 7196] Re: Supernovae and amateur astronomers
>
>
>  
>
>>Not strictly true: I know several amateurs who have acquired expensive
>>    
>>
>equipment via the Small Grant Program of the AAS or, as another example,
>near infrared photometers funded by AAVSO.
>  
>
>>David B. Williams
>>
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>  
>